| HDFS 2001 |
Diversity Issues in Human Development and Family Sciences |
This course examines critical issues in diversity as they relate to human development and family studies from a constructivist perspective. The basic premise of a constructivist perspective is that reality is socially constructed—that is, what we come to know as reality is created and recreated through social interaction. |
Storrs, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 2004W |
Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences |
This course provides an overview of research methods for studying children and families and the issues that relate to them. Historical medical practices on African Americans are highlighted in the discussion of ethical behavior in research. |
Storrs, Hartford |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 2142E |
Conservation and Sustainability with Preschoolers |
The importance of environmental stewardship will be explored as students actively engage with preschool children in project-based learning related to conservation and sustainability throughout the semester. Focus on understanding of environmental justice and equity and raising awareness of environmental stewardship in the larger Child Labs and UConn communities. |
Storrs, Waterbury |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 2300 |
Family Interaction Processes |
This course examines the interaction processes of family systems including communication processes, bonding behaviors, management of conflict and aggression, and negotiation of family crises with an emphasis on structural, intergenerational, and contextual forces that drive these processes. Students will critique popular representations of families and understand the strengths of unique family cultures, forms, and structure. |
Storrs, Hartford |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 2620 |
Human Development, Digital Medial, and Technology |
This course examines the social, economic, and cultural influences on youths’ interactions with and use of technology for formal and informal learning. Topics will include media literacy, digital divides, technology in education, and cyberbullying. Students will think critically evaluate issues that have emerged since the rise of the internet, social media, and more recently, artificial intelligence (AI). |
Storrs |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3095 |
Child Development, Social Justice, and Children's Rights |
Attuned to human rights and social justice lens, this course will have students explore pressing children’s rights issues across both developing and developed countries, with particular emphasis on the impacts on children’s development (e.g., social, emotional, cognitive, neuro-development) and the realization of their full potential. Importantly, students will critically engage with evolving and emerging issues that pose challenges for child development (e.g., climate change, technology, and income inequality). |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3096 |
Black Families |
This course will empower students to critically evaluate empirical research, media sources, laws, policies, and initiatives that shape the experiences of Black families. This course emphasizes the use of strength-based approaches, rather than deficit-perspectives, by highlighting cultural and assets, and joy in Black families. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3101 |
Infant and Toddler Development |
This course seeks to deepen student knowledge of the typical child’s development from prenatal to 3 years, including major theories of development, developmental achievements during this phase, and sources of individual differences in development (e.g., biological, family environmental, and wider ecological influences). Addresses Early Childhood Specializations themes of Social Justice and DEIJ |
Storrs, Stamford, Waterbury |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3102 |
Early and Middle Childhood Development |
This course seeks to deepen student knowledge of the typical child’s development from ages 3-10 years, including major theories of development, developmental achievements during this phase, and sources of individual differences in development (e.g., biological, family environmental, and wider ecological influences). Addresses Early Childhood Specializations themes of Social Justice and DEIJ |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3110 |
Social and Community Influence on Children in the United States |
Investigates contextual influences that impact child development with attention to factors that promote resilience. Assignments and classroom discussions will emphasize applications in areas such as prevention/intervention programs and social policies for improving social settings that are critical for supporting positive youth development. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3141 |
Developmental Approaches to Intergroup Relations and Victimization |
Children and families' experiences with various forms of victimization (e.g., bias-based) are examined with attention to diversity and social justice perspectives. Some assignments will highlight issues related to human diversity, multiculturalism, and systems of oppression. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3245 |
Aging in American Society |
This course examines the impact of aging on individual lives, families, communities, society, and looks at major social policies. Students will engage with topics such as dimensions of aging, the personal meanings of aging, and the ways in which the aging process is affected by social dynamics, cultural forces, personal characteristics and health factors. Attention will be placed on “macrolevel” issues of aging, by examining current issues and controversies associated with social policies related to aging and an aging society. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3249 |
Gender and Aging |
This course considers historical and cross-cultural perspectives on the implications of aging processes. Content will provide students with a foundation to deconstruct and challenge myths about aging men and women regarding sexuality, relationships, careers, health, retirement and other related issues. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3250 |
Disabilities: A lifespan Perspective |
This course takes a developmental lifespan approach to investigate ways to better advocate for disability rights, public policy, and improved educational and family environments. This course centers disabled people’s perspectives, as well as situates disabled people’s experience of various developmental periods within social structures, policies, and cultural norms that constrain them. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3261 |
Men and Masculinities |
This course centers on factors such as socialization and gender roles with attention to implications on interpersonal relationships and identity. Culture, race, class, sexual orientation, are considered as they interact with gender socialization, identity, and relationships. |
Stamford |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3277 |
Issues in Human Sexuality |
This upper-level course examines a broad range of theories, concepts, and topics on contemporary issues concerning human sexuality and the impact upon individuals and family units. That includes neuro-diverse and sexual diverse relationships. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3310 |
Parent Child Relations in Cross-Cultural Perspective |
The course focuses on theory, research and application of knowledge as it relates to parenting, parent-child relationships and parent education within and across multicultural settings. |
Storrs |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3319 |
Risk and Resilience in Individuals and Families |
This course examines how individuals and families deal with stressful and often catastrophic life events and significant transitions. This course investigates the factors that contribute to successful coping and adaptation and those that not not, including intrapersonal/individual, interpersonal/relational and environmental/contextual. (Family diversity and complexities in a changing world) |
Stamford, Waterbury |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3442 |
Latino Health and Health Care |
This course provides an overview of health and health care issues among Latino/a populations in the United States, with special attention to health inequities. This course will cover the major physical and mental health, access to health care, acculturation, cultural competence, language barriers, biological, cultural and social factors associated with health promotion and disease prevention among Latino/a populations in the United States. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3470 |
The Latinx Family |
This course will cover current issues on Latinx youth and families from a social and developmental psychological perspective. It will focus on history, theories, methods, research, and applied social issues as it pertains to Latinx families. Some topics will include family functioning, positive youth development, risk behaviors, adjustment, cultural values, immigration, and intervention. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3510 |
Planning and Managing Human Service Programs |
In line with the definition provided by The American Public Human Services Association, this course will provide students the foundation to evaluate and develop human service programs to ensuring accessibility, accountability and coordination in their delivery. |
Waterbury |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3530 |
Public Policy and the Family |
This course will explore the ways government programs and policies impact families at the local, state, and federal levels (heavily focused on the American context). Topics that will be explored include family poverty, working poor, homelessness, food insecurity, universal health care, and same sex marriage. A primary goal of the course is to help foster critical thinking among students on how policies impact families. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3540 |
Child Welfare, Law and Social Policy |
This course introduces students to various areas in which public policies and laws affect children and families. Particular attention is placed on how empirical research can be leveraged to influence such policies. Certain topics will cover juvenile justice systems, racial disproportionality in child welfare/juvenile justice systems, and child protective systems. |
Hartford |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 3550 |
Comparative Family Policy |
This engages students in comparative analyses of government programs and policies impacting families in the United States and other countries. Topics will include health and welfare policies, family planning, childcare, teen pregnancy, and care of the aged (e.g., gender affirming care in families, poverty, and immigration). |
Storrs |
Fall 2024 |
| HDFS 4255 |
Living with Chronic or Life-Threatening Illness |
Course considers the policies and social forces that influence the adaptation of individuals living with a chronic disease across the lifespan. Particular attention is placed on examining these driving forces through the lens of social determinants of health and health equity. |
n/a |
Not offered in Fall 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
